Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-31

vently congratulallDg one another, while |
the plaintive music gives way to loud |
hosannahs.
The religious part of the parades being
now concluded, rockets are set off from the
patio, or inner courtyard, to signal "the
attack upon the ola "a sport which con-
stitutes the greatest attraction for the
boys of the party.
TIE OLA
Is a big earthern Jar, or vase, covered with
tinsel and tissue paper, and bedeclled with
flowers and ribbons, filled to the brim
with bon-bons and other goodies" 1t is
suspended by cord from some arch or
balcony, and he who succeeds in MASKING
it while blindfolded thus liberating the
sweets it contains is the favored knight of
the evening. Each boy, in turn, is Sc
curely blindfolded, led some PAGES away
from the ola, and twirled rapidly around
several times, in order 10 confuse his
bump of locality" after which long
stick is placed in his hands
The aspirant, being always confident that
he can accomplish the feat at one blow, adj
vances boldly and when he fancies HIM
self in front of the OLA proceeds to give Il
lusty whack-generally at empty air, or
against some column or abutment, which
makes his fingers tingie with pain and his
cheeks flush with modification while the
big jar, with its cargo of goodies still hangs
high and dry, perhaps as far as possible
from the point at which he is aiming.
Each aspirant is allowed three separate
attempts; and meanwhile, the other young
sters dance around like little demons, en-
deayoring to confuse and mislead him by
jeers and laughter, traitorously yelling,
"Charge to the left, Bonitor p "Strike
to the right, mi amigo" "a little this
way, pobracito," ETC., etc.
At last some fortunate urchin, By the
merest chance, gives the vase blow which
shivers it to atoms, and the dulces fly about
in every direction. Then general scram-
BILE ensues; but it is perfectly understood
that the contents of the ola are for the
servants and their families, and not boy
tastes one of them, but merely tries to Sc
cure as many as he can for his special at
tendant or some favorite servitor.
Soon as the candies are disposed of all
leave the patio and repair to the dining
room, where supper is spread, and every
body finds at his plate some souvenir OF
the season in gifts and confectionery. Tine
was when these
RECUERDos DEL PosADAs"
Were very costly, consisting of jewels and
articles in gold and silver, but of later
years, since the proudest grandees are no
more rich as in the old days, the souvenirs
or recuerdos," are mostly flowers, bon
boneres and other Inexpensive trifies. After
supper and the distribution of gifts, the
musicians are summoned to the sala to
play danzas and waltzes till the wee sma'
hours of the morning.
Not until the ninth night, Christmas
eve, is the climax of the festival reached
in what is known as the Nacimiento, COM
memorative of the actual birth of Christ
A young lady who has been selected to be
Madrina," or god-mother to the holy in
FAINT, receives written invitation, of which
| give you a-translation verbatim ''Sen-
orita querida mia: The Messiah will visit
our poor earth tonight in the form of an
| infant. Knowing you to be virtuous, gen.
erous and large-hearted, we ask you to re-
| ceive this Child-Jesus in your arms and
carry him to the humble stable in Beth
lehem, where his mother, the Virgin
Mary, and his foster father St. Joseph,
| await him."
AT 10 o'clock on Christmas eve, the pro-
cession is formed as before, with the ex-
ception that instead Of the brancard borne
by maids Of honor, several little children,
as avant couriers, precede the Madrina,
who bears in her arms wax image of the
Child-J esus-in reality a wax doll dressed
in infants clothes. After making the
usual circuit nine times singing as they
go, the procession at length energies
ON THE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM,
Where all pause and chant the beautiful
Litany to the Virgin, the children re-
spending 1Nadre .Sdntissima, ora pro nobis.
This road to Bethlehem, the wayside ham,
lets, the stable, etc, are all carefully ar
ranged i'll the large room which before
served as the abode of the Bethlehemite
family.
The most perfect one have seen had
the walls of this apartment covered with
tapestry representing Judean landscapes.
From the ceiling, which was studded with
silver stars, were suspended several angels,
who were supposed to guard the mountain
passes and watch over the stable where the
holy family rested. Bethlehem, the hills
about, and the neighboring hamlets, were
all constructed in picturesque and artistic
Misunderstanding some anachronisms- such,
for example, as Judean maidens sitting in
their poor huts in white satin ball dresses.
a shepherd on a lonely hill guarding his
flock with gun, and the sacred stable
carpeted with a costly Persian rug.
a silvery cascade rushed down the noun
tain side and emptied into placid lake
formed by large mirror), on which ducks
and geese were swimming; shepherd was
guiding his flock over a bridge that spanned
a pebbled-bottom stream; women were
washing at the fountains; Judean maidens
carrying jars of water from the wells, and
cattle browsed upon the hills.
We looked into the huts where the
white-satin robed Judean maidens pursued
their humble avocations; we visited the
caves where the shepherds who watched
their flocks by night" were seated on the
ground eating their frugal suppers-with
diamond jeweled fingers; we passed the
Pilgrims, who, laden with offerings for the
Messiah, were toiliDg up steep hill; and
aiar of, on a mountain top, we beheld
three funnily-turbaned figures, followed
by slaves, who bore caskets supposed to
contain myrrh, frankincense and sweet
spices. These, of course, were
THE NAGI,
Who had halted and were eagerly scan
ming the country, asif in search of some
particular locality One, who personated
Melchoir, pointed to bright star OF sill
yer paper which hung over the straw
matched, Persian-carpeted stable, and ad-
dressed his companions in expressive
pantomime.
Finally we reached the humble shelter
of the blessed Virgin Mother; the gentle
Madrina deposited the waxen doll within
the manger where she lay, beside which
knelt St. Joseph, the foster father aud the
Magi, who had now arrived, followed by
the shepherds, the Pilgrims and all the
procession. Then hosannahs burst forth
anew, the maids of honor sang a aK,-rie
Eleison" and Jubilate, after which the
youngsters ran away to their games and
sweets, and the elders made ready for the
midnight mass in the grand cathedral and
the later tour of the city churches.
FANNIE B. WARD.
I, For the RECORD UNION
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE.
know that she loves me truly.